Good news for Sunderland in latest injury update, but doubts remain over Ola Toivonen

Sam Allardyce is sweating over the fitness of Ola Toivonen, while Younes Kaboul and Yann M’Vila are in line to face West Brom this weekend.

The Swedish international suffered a groin issue after coming on for his country in their recent Euro 2016 qualifier against Moldova on Monday and he will be tested ahead of the trip to the Hawthorns on Saturday.

“We’ve had a couple of shouts on Toivonen…. He’s had a little bit of a groin problem and indicated that to our doctor and physio,” said Allardyce, in quotes published by the Sunderland Echo.

“He said he felt his groin after the game on Monday night… we’re having a look at him and seeing what he’s like.”

Meanwhile, Younes Kaboul has been able to train this week after recovering from the knee problem that kept him out of the Black Cats’ last Premier League game.

Yann M’Vila limped off in that clash with West Ham after tweaking his hamstring but is also expected to be available for Saturday.

Allardyce will be unable to call on the services of Sebastian Coates and Jeremain Lens on his first game in charge however, with both players serving one-match bans.

Sunderland’s new boss will be hoping to get off to a good start and grabbing the club’s first win of the season would be the perfect way to do it.

West Brom will be disciplined and compact - as Tony Pulis teams usually are - but the game is there to be won for the Black Cats and Allardyce will look to lay down a marker for the rest of the campaign.